Beth A. Brooke is the former Global Vice Chair – Public Policy at Ernst and Young. She has been named nine times to the list of Forbes “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women”, and was named Woman of the Year by Concern Worldwide. In 2017, Beth received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, the top individual honor bestowed by the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She has also been inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
As Global Vice-Chair, Beth focuses on shaping the firm’s strategic direction and position on public policy, and is one of the profession’s most prominent voices in the public policy arena. Her work includes engaging with regulators, policymakers, business leaders, investors and other key stakeholders around the world to address the critical issues facing the profession and global capital markets. She regularly speaks at forums around the world on topics ranging from leadership in the 21st century, the role of business in society, issues impacting the accounting profession and global capital markets, women’s leadership, and the need for private sector/public sector cooperation to tackle policy challenges.
Beth is passionate about using her leadership platform to make a difference in the world. She is a devoted advocate for the advancement of women around the world. Beth served on the US Delegation to the 53rd and 54th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Through her leadership, EY joins annually with Forbes to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of women at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Within EY, Beth’s support of the firm’s inclusiveness, mentoring, and flexibility initiatives have contributed to EY’s consistent recognition by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”
Beth has played an active role embedding corporate responsibility into EY’s strategy. She spearheaded the creation of the EY Corporate Responsibility group, including its Fellows Program, which enables the firm’s top performers to spend three months using their expertise to work to help aspiring local entrepreneurs in developing countries. In her work with EY, and for years in her community involvement, Beth has worked in developing countries to support and work with entrepreneurs as engines for poverty alleviation and economic growth.
Beth’s policy expertise enabled her to make strong contributions to government as well. During the Clinton Administration, she worked for two years in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where she was responsible for all tax policy matters related to insurance and managed care. She played important roles in the healthcare reform and Superfund reform efforts. Prior to her current role at EY, Beth was National Director of Tax Advisory Services in Washington D.C., and previous to that, she worked in both audit and tax in the Indianapolis office where she became the first woman partner there in 1990. Over the course of her career, Beth has served some of the largest companies in the insurance and healthcare industries.
Beth has an undergraduate degree, with highest distinction, from Purdue University, where she majored in Industrial Management/Computer Science, while playing Intercollegiate Women’s Basketball. In 2012, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Purdue. Beth is a Certified Public Accountant and a Fellow in the Life Management Institute, a professional designation in the insurance industry.
Throughout her career, Beth has been actively engaged in numerous civic and business organizations. She chairs the Board of Vital Voices and co-chairs of the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership, both founded by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She serves on the Advisory Board for Out Leadership and the Boards of The Conference Board, The Aspen Institute and the Women’s Advisory Board of the World Economic Forum. Beth is also a member of the inaugural class of the Henry Crown Fellows of The Aspen Institute, the Committee of 200, and the International Women’s Forum.